Monthly Archives: May 2014

311 at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, Calif. on May 15, 2014.

311

May 15, 2014

Tia Anita’s 82nd cumpleaños.

Opening acts: Birds of Tokyo, Big Data, Young the Giants.

First time seeing Young the Giants and 311. Only heard some of Big Data’s set from afar with a beer in my hand (after vodka and Gatorade, aka faderade, in a Solo cup), and chatting with homies.

It was a poor showing, which I blamed on the hot weather and the fact that the headliner has played SB routinely.

Also, because the three openers only a have a handful of radio hits that were on heavy rotation at KJEE — the sponsors of the festival.

Before I go on critiquing shit, I have to say 311 was bomb and although in their 40s still have fun on stage and play songs that spark memories of good times.

OK, back to some bashing — kind of.

I have to compare this year’s KJEE summer roundup to the last couple of years’ artists and headliners. I went to and them and it went as follows—2012 was Grouplove, The Naked and Famous, GARBAGE, and Silversun Pickups. Obviously, Garbage should have been the top bill on this one.

This effing concert was epic just to see two bitchen female lead singers, Shirley Manson and Alisa Xayalith. Both ladies and their bands were fantastic and happy to have had the pleasure of seeing them live. Good shit.

Unfortunately, we got there late and didn’t see Grouplove, but I got to see them later when they opened up for No Doubts’ random 2-week residency at the Universal Amphiteater in Universal City, Calif. I say random because they had just released “Push and Shove,” but didn’t tour or really pimp the anywhere else aside from those amazing, fantastic, so-lucky-I-fucking-went show on a Monday after Thanksgiving 2012. Damns, I digress.

So Summer Roundup 2013. That was New Politics, Atlas Genius and Blink-motherfuckin-182. I’m pretty sure my drunkass cried at this show because Blink was so badass.

I have seen them before — opened up for No Doubt, too, as a matter of fact — but they were the size of ants. (It was a free concert at the ghetto, far-as-fuck amphitheater that was the size of a city. Think Rose Bowl). So for whatever reason, Blink touched me this night at the Roundup. I definitely had a moment. I clearly remember “I Miss You.”

Hello there, the angel from my nightmare
The shadow in the background of the morgue
The unsuspecting victim of darkness in the valley
We can live like Jack and Sally if we want
Where you can always find me
We’ll have Halloween on Christmas
And in the night we’ll wish this never ends
We’ll wish this never ends

Yah, you listen to that live while you’re drunk and stoned and not shed a tear.

And there it is. Summer Roundup 2014 was great and I’m totes glad I went for 311 alone. It was my first concert to start my SB Bowl 2014 season. There’s more to follow, including Slighth Stoopid, Rebelution and Iration, Jurassic 5 and Dilated People, Arcade Fire and mother fuckin Jack Johnson!!! Hopefully, they’ll be adding more shows. The couple that I would like to see but haven’t got tickets or because I wont be around are Ringo Starr, James Taylor, Maxwell and Foreigner.

Rebecca Villaneda is a Los Angeles-born writer educated in southern and northern California. Her second book, “The Record Store Book,” is a collaboration with photographer Mike Spitz and features 50 independent vinyl record stores in and around Los Angeles. It will be released April 14, 2015 and available for purchase at select retail locations, including Urban Outfitters or various online book stores.